Improve gout symptoms with black cherry extract.
Black Cherry: An Immune Health Supplement
Updated Apr. 23rd, 2024 | Read Time: 2 Minutes | What You Will Learn:
- What is Black Cherry?
- Health Benefits of Black Cherry
- Medicinal Properties of Black Cherry
- How To Take These Supplements
While black cherry is a well known ingredient in foods such as jams, pies and drinks, less is known about the many health benefits of this tasty little fruit.
What is Black Cherry?
Black cherry, also known as wild black cherry, is found indigenous to eastern North America. Its Latin name is Prunus serotina and this sun loving tree can be found throughout southern Quebec and Ontario. Both the bark and the cherries have medicinal properties and have unique applications.
Health Benefits of Black Cherry
The bark of this tree is a cough suppressant and is excellent for treating colds, coughs and bronchitis. Its astringent properties also make it useful in treating diarrhea and digestive upset. The bark is also believed to have sedative properties and can be used for insomnia.
The cherries (the fruit of the tree) are used to treat gout, which is a build up of uric acid crystals in the joint, causing pain and inflammation. Uric acid crystals build up as a result of eating high amounts of meat, sugar, coffee and alcohol. Black cherry cleanses uric acid crystals from the joints and helps relieve pain associated with inflammation. One study found that consuming this fruit caused reduced blood levels of uric acid and increased uric acid levels in the urine, meaning that the black cherries helped the kidneys excrete excess uric acid.
One small study showed that drinking this fruit juice reduced muscle damage after exercise. More research is needed to confirm this benefit, but the initial research is promising.
Medicinal Properties of Black Cherry
Like other medicinal plants, this fruit has a number of active constituents that contribute to its affects on the body. The bark has cyanogenic glycosides that act to reduce the cough mechanism. The bark also has astringent properties that dry up secretions, which makes it useful in colds and diarrhea.
Black cherries contain anthocyanins, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that protect cells from damage. This makes it potentially beneficial for healthy cell growth and one study showed that they prevented unhealthy colorectal cell growth; however, more research is needed.
How To Take These Supplements
Since there are two different components of this plant with different uses, you must pay attention to the form you purchase. Black cherry bark is often used in herbal combination remedies for coughs and colds, and is not usually found on its own. This fruit can be found in juice form or as an extract in soft gels or capsules.
I never knew a thing about black cherries except they are good to eat. By reading this article I learned a great deal more! Like Do Not eat the leaves, they contain a chemical that is converted to a form of Cyanide and is very toxic. These articles are a must go to, read for everyone, and what I like is that the articles are all contained on one site, and I don't have to search the internet to find the same information.
Hello Valerie-Jean,
Black Cherries are loaded with antioxidants which support cellular health, skin health and healthy aging. When taken in supplement form, the active ingredients are concentrated to provide more medicinal benefits. We're glad you enjoy learning from our articles, we work hard to provide this information; after all, knowledge is health.
Hello which one is best for gouts tarts cherry juice or black cherry juice
Hello Joseph,
Thank you for your comment and question. Black cherry juice is a supplement that may help with symptoms of gout. You can read more about that and other supplements that support this health concern here: https://www.nationalnutrition.ca/articles/health-concerns/gout/
Have a healthy day!